Obamateurism of the Day

posted at 8:05 am on May 31, 2011 by Ed Morrissey

Any time an American President addresses the subject of our nation’s military, it’s de rigueur to note that we have the finest military in world history –and for good reasons. That’s especially true on days set aside to honor military service and sacrifice. Or, at least it used to be:

This day is about you, and the fallen heroes that you loved. And it’s a day that has meaning for all Americans, including me. It’s one of my highest honors, it is my most solemn responsibility as President, to serve as Commander-in-Chief of one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known.

One of them, huh? Which others would Obama like to single out as superior or equal to the American military? Do we get the gold medal, or the silver or bronze?

Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at [email protected] with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.

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OT – at the Memorial Day parade yesterday we had the privilege of having Debbie Stabenow (Sen. MI) and both Carl (Sen. MI) and Sander (HOR MI) Levin walking the route. I was surprised to hear the small amount of cheering for these Dems in an auto town (Sterling Hts.). Mostly from the recall GOP Rick Snyder (Gov. MI) petition people. The most and loudest went to the current and retired military people. As it should be.

If I judge the crowd correctly the Dems are going to have a tough time in MI next election cycle.

Even after the Seals got bin Laden, when Obama and his core staff think of the U.S. military they think of the guys and gal who did Abu Ghirab before they think of them. When they were growing up during the Vietnam era, more than likely they were surrounded by adults who thought everyone in the military was William Calley, and passed that mindset along to the kids.

That’s why Obama & Co. stuck the qualifier into that sentence — they know they can’t voice their feelings on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, but they’d feel guilty offering up their wholehearted, jingoistic (in their minds) support for the military. The “one of” is the way to show their reservations about the military without openly saying it.

Maybe he was comparing today’s American military to all our military throughout our history? That’s the only explanation that isn’t bad (anything else is another stab at the heart of American Exceptionalism) but even if that’s what he meant, it’s still lame. Anyhoo, this is equally amateurish:

And it’s a day that has meaning for all Americans, including me.

Why did he have to add “including me”? Gee, it could be because he’s such a narcissist it’s always about him? Or is he just trying to remind us that he’s an American with a birth certificate?

well, in his defense, didn’t that other great orator, Kanye West, state that “Imma let you finish but Beyonce’ had one of the greatest hits of all time….”? So, while it might appear to be a slight, it may actually be a high honor when compared to statements by fellas of similar intellectual acumen, if you will…./

And this man is the smartest President we have ever had in our entire history?

(That meme pretty much expired years ago.)

No explanation for this sort of thing, really, when you look at it in context of all the other missteps this President has made, from the return of the Churchill bust to yesterday’s rehearsed “tribute” to Our fallen, other than to admit that it is intentional…thus not an amateurism.

Can we get a new and better President one of these days? Doesn’t have to be the smartest President, either, just one who clearly and dearly loves this Nation.

well, in his defense, didn’t that other great orator, Kanye West, state that “Imma let you finish but Beyonce’ had one of the greatest hits of all time….”? So, while it might appear to be a slight, it may actually be a high honor when compared to statements by fellas of similar intellectual acumen, if you will…./

well, in his defense, didn’t that other great orator, Kanye West, state that “Imma let you finish but Beyonce’ had one of the greatest hits of all time….”? So, while it might appear to be a slight, it may actually be a high honor when compared to statements by fellas of similar intellectual acumen, if you will…./

ted c on May 31, 2011 at 8:46 AM

Funny that. I was in Iraq at the time that KW said Bush hates Blacks; read about it, but never saw the video clip until a couple of weeks ago. It was certainly an awkward moment for co-host Mike Meyers. Seems that Chris Tucker was also off-pace by the spark of brilliance from KW.

Glad I read that here cuz I can’t listen to his speeches anymore. The ssss hiss is getting worse every time he opens his mouth. He reads well, with a lot of inflection but lacks the passion in his voice that he really means what he says.

What the heck does that sentence mean? Does he have to remind us that he is an American?

Ed, please find tha video clip of Obama chawing away at chewing gum (Nicorette?) during the Joplin memorial. It is exhibit (I have lost track of the number) of this president’s absolute disdain for protocol.

And it’s a day that has meaning for all Americans, including me.
Why did he have to add “including me”? Gee, it could be because he’s such a narcissist it’s always about him? Or is he just trying to remind us that he’s an American with a birth certificate?

Buy Danish on May 31, 2011 at 8:34 AM

BHO knows that lots of Americans don’t believe that Memorial Day or the sacrifices of the military have meaning for HIM, so he’s saying “How dare you (conservatives) question my patriotism, yes I do care about the military!”

My daughter is currently in ROTC, and heading out for a week in a few weeks, to go to SLS training.

Her plan is to graduate high school and enter the Air Force. Time will tell, but right now, she seems determined to make it her career. When I asked her why, she said…because I want to serve my country. I’m a really proud mom.

That being said….Obama saying our military is but one out of others as a great military is a true slap in the face. Right now….young men and women are serving, and dying, or facing possible damage to their persons in service to their country. And they all do it on a volunteer basis. Past, present and future…these people who do this great thing for us….and the doofus in the oval office can only describe them in comparison to other nations military? This man , and I use the term man loosely…does not deserve the title of President, and I will no longer refer to him as such.

Obama’s “one of the finest” was a huge insult to our military. Obama’s cadence when giving speeches drives me nuts. He speaks 6 or 7 words then pauses. It reminds me of how you have to wind up a kid’s toy to keep it going. Other presidents have been able to keep the speech flowing smoothly while using TOTUS, but not Obama.

Yesterday was golf game #70 for Obama since he took office. How many times have our military in Afghanistan or Iraq played golf since Obama became President? My guess is zero.

My heartfelt thanks to those who have served in our military, are serving or will serve. God Bless you all.